STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2672, 31 May 1905, Page 7

STOCK AND GRAZING NOTES.

B* Djbotbs.

Weekly Stock Sales : Fortn<nMlv: Burnside, Wednesdays InvercxrgiU, Tuesdays Ashburtoa, Tuesdays Monthly: Adriinsrtou.Wedneadays ciiuton, PalraeratcmFortnigMly: Whrton, and WaiBalclntta, Fridays Gore. Tuesdays . Ptno&tcaMy Oanaru Tuesday* Heriot, Kelso, and Kye, hurw,. About 140 head of cattle were yarded at Burnside last week, including a ew pens of -crime bulleeks, also seme nice cows and "heifers The bulk of the yarding however, were nothing to brag about at all. Good to prime cattle sold readily at an advance of 10s per head on the previous week's rates, but there was no improvement manifest in lower qualities. Be?t bullocks brought £10 to £10 17s 6d; good, £8 to £9 10s; medium, about £7; light, £5 10s to £6 10s. Some nice cows and heifers brought £6 10s to £7; medium, £\ to £5; inferior, about £3.

There is a capital demand for good dairy cattle where the cattle are known, as was the case the other day, when, at Mr Donald Gucn's clearing sale at Sandymount, latelycalved cows brought £8 to £10; heifers (springing), about £5 ; cows calved two or three months, £7 10s. Dairymen generally recognise that bargains at tho saleyards are dear bargains, but when a well-known dairyman is clearing out neighbours have confidence in the stock offered. Good milking cows are none too plentiful, and prices will probably run higher in the spring.

Nearly 1600 sheep were yarded at Burngida last week, and there _ was an improvement in price of all good lots, but for others bidding was slack, and Tyrices, if anything, lower. Prime wethers sold at from 23s to over 255-, and some extra heavy up to 27s 6d ; good, about 225 ; medium. 19s to 20s; light, about 17s; prime ewes, 19s to 225; light to medium, 12s to 15s. A few lambs and tegs sold at from 15s 6d to 22s 6d according to weight. There was a -good demand and a brisk sale, as only 280 were yarded.

The entry of sheep at Addington was large, but consisted mainly of unfinished' sheep fit only for the grazier and this had a rather depressing effect on the market. The -demand f«r prime sheep was ■good. Wet'ier3 brought 22s to 24s 6d; medium, 20s to 21s ; unfinished, l?s to 18s ; prime ewes, 20s to 21s; medium, 16s to 17s ; light and aged, about 13s 6d. There was a large yarding 1 of lambs and tegs, and prioe3 ran very high — 19s to 21s for tegs ; 18s to 19s for prime lambs under 421b; lighter, 16a to 17s. The store sheep consisted mainly of two-tooth wethers in not very forward condition, but they sold at 16a to 18s 3d. Store lambs in fair condition brought 12s 6d to 14s. Ewes were not offered. The principal- sales were : — Two-tooth wethers— 76 at 18s~4d, 181 at 17s 6d, 104 at 17s 4-d, 208 at 16s lid, 136 at 16s 3d, 53 at 16s 3d; two and fourtooth — 145 at 16s sd; lambs— sß at 13s Bd, 94- at 12s lOd. The supply of pigs was large, and all sorts were lower, fats particularly so, owing to curers having already secured large stocks. Baconers sold at 40s to 465, or equal to hardly 4d ncr lb; heavies, equal to 3£d; very heavy, 2§d ; porkers, 4d to 4^d. Stores sold at from 12s to 20s; weaners. 69 to 10s. The supply of pigs all over is heavy, and it looks as if prices may come below 4d for bacon pigs. Export value I would put at 3d to 3£d. North. Island bacon factories have all heavy stocks on hand, and it looks as if we must resort to export in some form or other, either in bacon or frozen rigs, to clear the market and give it a healthy tone, as we have no Australian or South African trade now. Supplies being 1 heavy in Australia, they can, and do, supply what is required for South Africa; but Sfouth ' Africa, does maialy with American bacon.

This five large frozen meat companies in Argentina seem to be doing a good, steady business. The following are statistics- of tho exports of each factory during Feb- - ruary, 1905 : —

The exports from Australia in frozen mutton and lamb for the year ending December last was as follov.-s, in carcases, and the total was mainly made up from August to September. During three months of this year the totals are far heavier: — N.S.W. Victoria Q'land. Mutton. Lamb. Mutton. Lamb. Mutton. 236,067 91,249 27,216 281,090 23,639 South Australia has also done a large export lamb trade, which is likely to increase. The following notes on ensilage by "Lactose," in the Pastoralists' Review, are, I hope, interesting. I particularly wish that my turnip-loving friends in Southland would give the matter of ensilage their attention, and a fail- trial under proper conditions : — The silo should preferably ha corcular, and the American tub unquestionably provides the fltttost economical and perfect method of conserving silage. -Care should be observed to prevent tlie invasion of water eithei at the base or on the surface. The great turn is to preserve a fodder whicih can. be grown and ensiloed cheaply, an-d at tie same time furnish a. relishable and nourishing food. No fodders give better results than maizes and sorghums. Tests time after time_ Have snown that such can be grown and 'siloed at a cost of between 5s and 6s per ton. This includes the cost of chaffing, which is always a clear advantage, owing- to th& facility -with which the material packs and excludes entangled air. The main essential in packing food for ensilage is to exclude air, and to pack in such a fashion that when the usual shrinkage and condensation takes place there will be no opportunity of air being admitted. The character of the^food, its nutrient value and relishability, depends-ao largely on the skill and attention given to the completeness of packirig in tihe silo. The fermentative changes determine this, and the inflow of air checks the development of these. The class of fodder is formed by the stage at which it ia cut for the silo, the method of siloing, the means» adopted to exclude air, tuacl the character of the silo. Ensilage is often given as such when it ia little more tihan manure. Where it is properly made the increase in weight fattening shoiild be equal to that gained by feeding grass, provided a quantity of 401b per day be given to an animal weighing about 800lb. It has, however, to be remembered that- much depends on the nature of the food and the condition it is in when cured. "With regard to the statement that cattle get wearied of eating ensilage and do not appear to relish it. Possibly so, and this may be oaused by the condition of the ensilage. If too sour or made from unsuitable fodder, or the fermentation has been checked, then it suffers in its palatability ; but given a perfectly-made ensilage cows -will eventeally evidence a distaste for it if some change be not made. When dairy cattle are being fed on ensilage this is constantly in evidence, and an alteration in tihe ration is made to meet the case. At the Hawkesbury College the following rations are used: — RATIONS FOR DAIRY COWS. | — Hawke&bury Agricultural College. —

The winter show in Dunedin Trill be of greater interest thia year than ever, to dairymen especially. This year is the first of the four years' competition for the graders' prize, and 17 cheese factories and seven butter factories — all the best in the South Island — have entered, and the points and results will be announced at the winter show. No one knows except the secretary of the Otago A. and P. Society who wins, except", possibly, the grader. ' I predict a very close and interesting finish", all competitors doing creditably, and even , the winner will not, I think, be able to i brag unduly over the others, as he will probebly win by the skin of his teeth as it were, with all the rest close on him. The winter show at Bahnerston North will, I know,, attract a large number of j

southern dairymen and others. Several of our cheese factories have entered for the main prizes, and I am confident they will . do honoar to the sunny south at the gree northern winter show.

ia Cia Sansfnena de Carnes Congeladas tiver Plato Fresh Meat Co. ras PaJmas Produce Co. ta Blanca .a Plata Cold Storage Co Total s §a a -g a 48,512 69,056 46,625 35,568 18,73' i 218,495 33;886 3,379 23,014 17,451 13,496 1,840 17,587 1,219 27,508 5,408 115,521 23,300

TO CU -2 rrt "Ration. ts * 3 J8 Ji -C-S 1. 40lb ensilage .. 10.0 0.52 5.4 0.24 1:11.4 2. 401b ensilage .. 10.0 0.52. 5.4 0.24 slb copra, cake 4.3 0.52 2.12 G. 50 14.3 1.34 7.52 0.74 1:6.85 3. 401b ensilag* .. 10.0 0.52 5.40 0.24 101b lucetne hay 8.9 1.23 3.71 o.lft 51b copra cake 4.3 0.82 2.12 0.50 32.2 2.67 11.23 0.90 1:5.10